SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS
| DATE | LOCATION | ACCOMMODATION | MEALS |
| DAY 1 | ARRIVAL KILIMANJARO | GRAN MELIA ARUSHA HOTEL | BB |
| DAY 2 – 3 | ARUSHA FLY TO SERENGETI N. PARK | GRAN MELIA ARUSHA HOTEL | FB |
| DAY 4 – 5 | NGORONGORO CRATER | NGORONGORO SERENA LODGE | FB |
| DAY 6 – 7 | LAKE MANYARA | LAKE MANYARA SERENA LODGE | FB |
| DAY 8 – 9 | TARANGIRE N. PARK | MARAMBOI TENTED LODGE | FB |
| DAY 10 – 11 | ARUSHA N. PARK | THE SAFARI HOUSE KILI GOLF | FB |
| DAY 12 – 13 | LUSHOTO USAMBARA MOUNTAIN | LUSHOTO MULLA MOUNTAIN LODGE | FB |
| DAY 14 – 15 | MKOMAZI NATIONAL PARK | BABU’S TENTED CAMP | FB |
| DAY 16 | MKOMAZI TO KILIMANJARO | KIA LODGE LUNCH & DAY ROOM | B |
ITINERARY
DAY 1: ARRIVE AT KILIMANJARO AIRPORT
Arrive Kilimanjaro airport. Meet your private driver from Kaoneka Safaris and transfer to your luxurious accommodations. Is the Arusha’s most famous hotel, The Gran Melia Arusha Hotel is in many ways the beauty of Arusha and has been welcoming many of safari guests starting on safari. Gran Melia Arusha.
Gran Melia Arusha Hotel| Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 2: ARUSHA TO SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast meet your driver then drive to Arusha airport for your flight to Serengeti National Park. It is approximately a one-hour flight from Arusha to Serengeti. Up on arrival you will meet with your private guide and start searching for birds. Drive to the camp for hot lunch then go out for evening drive. Dinner and overnight at Serena Lodge.
Serengeti Serena Lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3: FULL DAY AT CENTRAL SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
The Serengeti National Park is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in the world and of Tanzania. The origin of its name comes from the word “Siringet” in Maasai language which means “never ending plain”.
Serengeti is located in the highlands which extends from the east to the west of the high plains of Ngorongoro to Lake Victoria and continues to the north with the Maasai Mara in Kenya. The most impressive attraction of this gigantic ecosystem is the enormous concentration of herbivore: wildebeest, zebras, antelope, etc. The birds, of course, are the main party to this drama. We’ll search for Helmeted Guinea Fowl, Red-billed Hornbill, Bare-faced Go-away bird, Secretary bird, Kori Bustard, etc.
Serengeti Serena Lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4: SERENGETI TO NGORONGORO CRATER
When at last you arrive at the highest point of the hillsides of the Ngorongoro crater, a garden of Eden on Earth opens up at your feet. You will never have seen anything quite like it, so much life in one single space. For this the Maasai, who arrived there two thousand years ago they called it el-Nkoronkoro “Gift of Life”.
The crater forms part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, in 1979 it was declared a World Heritage site by Unesco. It covers an area of 8000 km2 and where the Oldupai Gorge can be found, an important site for the investigation of the evolution of the human species.
Ngorongoro Serena Lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5: FULL DAY AT NGORONGORO CRATER
Set out on a full-day game drive in Ngorongoro Crater, exploring the panoramic, short-grass prairies along the floor of this ancient volcanic caldera, home to rare black rhinos as well as lions, hyenas and gazelles. The diverse and profuse wildlife dwelling within the encircling crater walls led this incredible “Lost World” to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also see colorfully garbed Maasai herdsmen, who call the stunning landscape home. This afternoon after lunch and more game drive then drive back to the lodge. While descending into Crater, the tropical forest along the rim offers excellent birding. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for flowers, we might find the Savor, the coolest Sunbird spectacle in Africa and Tacazee Sunbird: the impressive golden/green bird and the impressive Crowned Crane bird, etc.
Ngorongoro Serena Lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7: NGORONGORO TO LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
This day after breakfast drive to Karatu at Gibb’s Farm lodge for more bird watching at the coffee plantation where you will expect to find Acadian flycatcher, Alder flycatcher, Chested bee-eater, Speke’s weaver, etc. Lunch at Gibb’s farm then proceed to Lake Manyara for dinner and overnight.
Lake Manyara Serena Lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8: FULL DAY AT LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast drive to Manyara. You will explore the beauty of Lake Manyara National Park. Lake Manyara provides opportunities for viewing and observing over 300 birds, Silvery-cheeked hornbill, Spur-winged goose, Pied kingfisher, Sacred ibis, Saddle-billed stork, Great white pelican, Greater flamingos, etc. While most known for tree climbing Lions the lake and its surroundings is also home to herbivores such as hippos, impala, buffalo, giraffe and warthog. After a game drive return to the lodge.
Lake Manyara Serena Lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 9: LAKE MANYARA TO TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
Tarangire National Park has an incredible diversity of landscapes and vegetation and is famous for the large number of elephants, baobab trees and climbing lions. The topography of the hills covered with baobabs and anthills is divided by the river Tarangire which attracts a large number of animals migrating in the dry season.
Mpingo Ridge Tented Camp | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 10: FULL DAY TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
With your private guide explore Tarangire National Park back dropped by the spectacular, rust hued Great Rift Valley. At Tarangire, find a stunning concentration of birds, over 550 different species including Maasai Ostrich, Ashy Starling, Red-and-yellow Barbet, Red billed Parrot, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Tawny Eagle, etc. Tarangire National Park is well known for the high density of Elephant in Northern Tanzania and you can view these animals all year around in which the herds often can reach an impressive number of 100 to 300 animal. The Tarangire River has water all year around and this causes the animal to come from the surrounding areas to the river during the dry season including Lions, Buffaloes, Giraffes, Wildebeests, Zebra, etc.
Mpingo Ridge Tented Camp | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 11: TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK TO ARUSHA
Today after breakfast drive to Arusha the growing busy city. Stop for lunch at Shanga Shanga and the Coffee lodge, after lunch drive to the culture centre museum for shopping before heading toward The Safari House for dinner and overnight.
The Safari House | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 12: ARUSHA TO LUSHOTO USAMBARA MOUNTAIN
After breakfast we’ll drive up into the heights of the West Usambara Mountains. The lush landscape of montane forest and agricultural fields here is a radical change of scene from the dry country. Arrival at Lushoto Mullar Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Mullar Mountain Lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 13: FULL DAY AT LUSHOTO USAMBARA MOUNTAIN
This day the main targets here is Spot-throat Modulatory, a weird sort of relict of evolution. Although it is fairly common by voice, it is devilishly difficult to see well. Another major target is Usambara Weaver, endemic to this mountain range, though seeing this bird requires a lot of luck. The mountains also offer good general birding, with extra chances to see birds like Bar-tailed Trogon, etc.
Mullar Mountain Lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 14: LUSHOTO USAMBARA MOUNTAIN MKOMAZI N. PARK
Depart Lushoto with lunch box and drive to Mkomazi National Park located at the arid Tsavo-corridor woodlands of Same. Nested in the rain shadow of the Usambara and Pare mountain, the throne scrub here offers fantastic birding. There is whole range of species that are found. Stop for lunch at one of the picnic sites then proceed with your drive to the lodge. Arrival for dinner and overnight at Babu’s Tented Camp.
Babu’s Tented Camp | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 15: FULL DAY MKOMAZI NATIONAL PARK
Here the target is Black-throated Barbet, Somali Golden breasted Bunting, Rosy-patched Bush shrikes, Red-fronted Warbler, Orange-billed Parrot, White-belled Go-away bird, Purple Grenadine, Bateleur Eagle, Tawny Eagle, etc. Mkomazi is also home for other creatures that you’re likely to spot including the Orix, Elands, Dik Dik, Kudu and Hartebeest. Make you way back to the camp for dinner and overnight.
Babu’s Tented Camp | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 16: MKOMAZI N. PARK KILIMANJARO AIRPORT
This is the last day of your trip where you may wish to sleep in and wake up in time for breakfast before the restaurant closes. After breakfast, if you wish to do some shopping you have time in Moshi city. Arrival Kia Lodge, check into a day room and hot lunch. After lunch return to your room for some rest and final packing, at 5:50 transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport. Check in for your flight and departure back home.